Space & PhysicsJuly 6, 2015
Spacecraft Glitch Won't Affect Pluto Flyby, NASA Says
New Horizons went into “safe mode” on Saturday but the probe should be back to normal science operations by Tuesday, exactly one week before it performs the flyby
Stories by Mike Wall
Mike Wall has been writing for Space.com since 2010. His book about the search for alien life, “Out There,” was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Space & PhysicsJune 28, 2015
SpaceX Rocket Fails During Cargo Launch to Space Station
SpaceX holds a $1.6-billion NASA contract to fly at least 12 unmanned unmanned runs to the space station; the previous six flights had all been successful
Space & PhysicsJune 9, 2015
NASA "Flying Saucer" Supersonic Parachute Fails Test [Video]
NASA's huge supersonic parachute isn't ready to land astronauts on Mars just yet
Space & PhysicsMay 26, 2015
U.S. Air Force Launches X-37B Space Plane on Fourth Mystery Mission
Most details about the space plane are classified, but the launch vehicle also carried 10 miniscule "cubesats," including the LightSail solar sail, developed by the Planetary Society
Space & PhysicsMay 5, 2015
Nearby Super-Earth May Harbor Huge Volcanoes
Drastic temperature variations observed on 55 Cancri e suggest the exoplanet is geologically active
Space & PhysicsApril 14, 2015
Thunderstorm Delays SpaceX Rocket Landing Attempt
The daring reusable rocket landing test now is set for 4:10 pm Eastern today
Space & PhysicsApril 10, 2015
SpaceX to Try Launching Reusable Rocket Again Monday
The company will attempt to bring the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket back to Earth for a soft touchdown, a maneuver that nearly worked in January
Space & PhysicsFebruary 13, 2015
NASA Probe Captures Images of Pluto and Its Moon Charon [Video]
The New Horizons spacecraft is set to make the first flyby of Pluto this July
Space & PhysicsFebruary 11, 2015
Rough Seas Scuttle SpaceX Plans for Rocket Fly Back
The company had hoped to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on a robotic barge as part of its effort to develop fully reusable rockets
Space & PhysicsJanuary 27, 2015
Monster Winter Storm Spotted from Space
Imagery captured from Saturday through Monday (Jan. 24 to Jan. 26) by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration's GOES-East spacecraft shows the storm's development and movement
Space & PhysicsJanuary 16, 2015
Lost Mars Lander Found in NASA Photos
The U.K.'s Beagle 2, which disappeared during a landing attempt in 2003, is clearly visible in new photos from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter currently at the Red Planet
Space & PhysicsJanuary 12, 2015
SpaceX Dragon Capsule Delivers Fresh Supplies to Space Station
The capsule was carried January 10 atop a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral. After launch the rocket came down as planned on a drone ship but hit a bit too hard
Space & PhysicsDecember 31, 2014
Jupiter Moon Europa's Giant Geysers Are Missing
Research teams are failing to confirm plumes of water vapor reported a year ago to have been spewing about 200 kilometers into space from Europa's south pole
Space & PhysicsNovember 19, 2014
Pluto Probe to Wake from "Hibernation" Next Month
NASA's New Horizons probe is set to awaken from 99 days during which the spacecraft's electronics were largely unpowered. Observations at the dwarf planet start in January
Space & PhysicsNovember 12, 2014
Comet-Chasing Rosetta Spacecraft Releases Probe for Ambitious Landing Attempt
Space & PhysicsNovember 6, 2014
Spectacular View of Newborn Planetary System Captured by Radio Telescope
A planet-forming disk around a million-year-old star has been imaged in unprecedented detail
Space & PhysicsOctober 29, 2014
Unmanned Supply Rocket Explodes Seconds after Liftoff
Orbital Sciences’s Antares rocket burst into flames mere moments into its mission to send a cargo-carrying spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station. NASA reported no injuries to personnel
Space & PhysicsOctober 10, 2014
Red Planet Spacecraft Prepare for Rare Comet Encounter
NASA's rovers and orbiters at Mars will witness a close encounter with a comet on October 19, an event that happens once every million years
Space & PhysicsSeptember 25, 2014
India’s Mars Probe Sends Its First Images
The India Space Research Organization unveils its first pictures of the red planet
Space & PhysicsSeptember 17, 2014
NASA Picks SpaceX and Boeing to Fly U.S. Astronauts on Private Spaceships
If all goes according to plan, the two companies will reduce or end NASA's dependence on Russia for its orbital taxi service
Space & PhysicsJune 30, 2014
Carbon Dioxide-Monitoring Satellite "Go" for Tuesday Launch
The satellite is destined for an orbit 438 miles above Earth and will use a spectrometer to measure CO2 concentrations in the air 24 times per second
Space & PhysicsJune 6, 2014
"Beast" Asteroid to Fly by Earth on Sunday
What might be the effects if a large asteroid collided with Earth?
Space & PhysicsMay 16, 2014
Busted Exoplanet-Hunting Kepler Space Telescope Gets a New Mission
Kepler will rely on solar radiation pressure to balance its compromised pointing ability in order to make observations of targets in the plane of Earth's orbit
January 22, 2014
Sleeping Rosetta Spacecraft Wakes Up for Historic Comet Rendezvous and Landing
The European Space Agency's probe was successfully awoken from hibernation Monday and will begin preparations to explore a comet